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Angels Manager Had Hilarious Threat to Zach Neto Ahead of 2025 Debut

Nelson Espinal|
Apr 18, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (9) is greeted after scoring a run against the San Francisco Giants during the second inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Apr 18, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (9) is greeted after scoring a run against the San Francisco Giants during the second inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

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Los Angeles Angels

Angels shortstop Zach Neto returned to the diamond for his 2025 debut on Friday and made an instant impact with an RBI double during his first at-bat.

The Halos won the game 2-0 against the surging San Francisco Giants, and Neto was finally able to grace Angel Stadium after months of recovering from right shoulder surgery he underwent in November.

The team as a whole seemed happy to have him back at shortstop, especially his manager.

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“It’s tremendous,” manager Ron Washington said.

“He’s champing at the bit to play. We want him to play. We’ve missed him. And now he’s back. I told him when he went out there, I said, ‘If there’s a play that you don’t make, you’re going back to Salt Lake City. He just said, ‘I ain’t worried about that.’”

Neto played back-to-back games on Tuesday and Wednesday with Triple-A Salt Lake in two different rehab starts following surgery.

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In his first game back, Washington trusted Neto to start at short and bat seventh in the line-up.

“Me and him have that relationship where I see him as a father figure,” Neto said.

“And it's just learning moments every time we talk. Like when I first got out here, and he was sitting right here [on the bench], and I was like, ‘Man, I came here to work. Not sit on your [butt]. It's fun just having that relationship with him. And when it's time to get serious, we get serious about the game.”

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In 2024, Neto was the best player on the team, generating a total of 5.1 Wins Above Replacement while slashing .249/.318/.443 with 23 home runs, 30 stolen bases, and 77 RBIs.

The Angels have managed to stay afloat in his absence, but now that he is back, the team will hope that Neto can match last year's contributions in 2025.

For more Angels news, head over to Angels on SI.

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Nelson Espinal
NELSON ESPINAL

Nelson Espinal lives and breathes sports. Avidly following of everything ranging from motorsports to Mixed Martial Arts to tennis, he is connected with most of the sports world at all times. His dream of writing about sports started at 16 years of age, writing for a Lakers fans blog, and his passions for sports writing has grown since. He has his Bachelor's degree in Political Science, and a minor in writing literature from the University of California, San Diego.

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